Lonely Planet Best Of Spain

BEST OF SPAIN

TOP SIGHTS, AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCES

Welcome to Spain

Passionate, sophisticated and devoted to living the good life, Spain is both a stereotype come to life and a country more diverse than you ever imagined.

Poignantly windswept Roman ruins, cathedrals of rare power and incomparable jewels of Islamic architecture speak of a country where the great civilisations of history have risen, fallen and left behind their indelible mark. More recently, what other country could produce such rebellious and relentlessly creative spirits as Salvador Dal, Pablo Picasso and Antoni Gaud? Here, grand monuments to the past coexist alongside architectural creations of such daring that it becomes clear Spains future will be every bit as original as its past.

But for all the talk of Spains history, this is a country that lives very much in the present and theres a reason fiesta is one of the best-known words in the Spanish language life itself is a fiesta here and everyone seems to be invited. Perhaps youll sense it along a crowded, post-midnight street when all the world has come out to play. Or maybe that moment will come when a flamenco performer touches something deep in your soul.

Food and wine are national obsessions in Spain, and with good reason. The touchstones of Spanish cooking are deceptively simple: incalculable variety, traditional recipes handed down through the generations, and an innate willingness to experiment and see what comes out of the kitchen laboratory.

, Barcelona / MANFRED GOTTSCHALK / GETTY IMAGES

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One of Europes coolest cities

Home to cutting-edge architecture, world-class dining and pulsating nightlife, ) or marvelling at Gaud masterpieces. By night, its all vintage cocktail bars, gilded music halls, innovative eateries and dance-loving clubs.

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Beautiful beaches with echoes of Salvador Dal

Filled with villages, such as Tossa de Mar ( in Catalonia is one of our favourite corners of the Mediterranean. Beyond this, the spirit of Salvador Dal lends so much personality and studied eccentricity to the Costa Brava experience, from his one-time home in Port Lligat near Cadaqus to Dal-centric sites in Figueres and Castell de Pbol.

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The exotic jewel in Andalucas crown

) is close to architectural perfection and perhaps the most refined example of Islamic art anywhere in the world. Magnificent from afar, exquisite in its detail up close, the Alhambra is a singular jewel thats worth crossing the country to see. But Granada is also about so much more, from the Middle Eastern touches of the whitewashed Albayzn to its gilded monuments to Christian rule, not to mention one of the most dynamic and accessible tapas scenes anywhere in Spain.

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The whitewashed essence of Spains rural south

The splendid cities of ), Arcos de la Frontera and Vejer de la Frontera also vie for the title of Andalucas most engaging hamlets.

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Spains Andalucian city par excellence

Nowhere is as quintessentially Spanish as ). Blessed with year-round sunshine and fuelled by an unending schedule of festivals, everything seems more amorous here, a feeling not lost on legions of 19th-century aesthetes, who used the city as a setting in their romantic works of fiction.

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Architectural jewels and vibrant, life-filled streets

The sublime Mezquita ( is both a high point of Moorish architecture in Europe and symbol of Andalucas fascinating history. Its features include perfectly proportioned horseshoe arches, an intricate mihrab, and a veritable forest of 856 columns, many recycled from Roman ruins. Elsewhere in the city, theres a storied old Jewish quarter, fabulous food and many landmarks to the days back in the 10th century.

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Stunning architecture, storied history and constant clamour

Luminous when floodlit, the elegant central square of ), is possibly the most attractive in all of Spain. It is just one of many highlights in a city whose architectural splendour has few peers in the country. Salamanca is home to one of Europes oldest and most prestigious universities, so student revelry also lights up the nights. Its this combination of grandeur and energy that makes so many people call Salamanca their favourite city in Spain.

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Fine food and cultural excellence

The has its own unique flavour. Chefs here have turned bar snacks into an art form. Sometimes called high cuisine in miniature, pintxos (Basque tapas;) are piles of flavour and the choice lined up along the counter in any San Sebastin bar will leave first-time visitors gasping: this is Spains most memorable eating experience. But this is also a relentlessly dynamic cultural region with visitors drawn to Bilbaos shimmering titanium fish, the Museo Guggenheim Bilbao, as well as riverside promenades, clanky funicular railways, an iconic football team and quality museums.